Photographic product



23, 1954 A. J. BACHELDER ETAL 2,698,243 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT Filed Sept. 19, 1952 ww f ATTORNEYS 2,698 2 e rc -aerate. BRQDUCT Albert J. Bachelder, Lexington, and William J. McCune,

Jr., South Lincoln, Mass assignors to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application September-19, 1952-, Serial No. 310,456

1; Claims. cl. 95-83 and the processing composition includes a developer, a 2

silver halide solvent and an alkali. The layer of processing composition between the frame and the area may be formed, for example, by advancing the sheets between a pair of pressure-applying members. In the presence of this layerof processing composition, a latent image in the frame is developedto silver and a soluble silver complex from unexposed silver halide is formed, is transferred by imbibition to the area, and there is developed to silver to produce a positive image.

The boundaries of. an image-receiving area of the aforementioned type aredefined, in practice, by an openingin a masking sheet which is superposed on the imagereceptive sheet. The masking sheet, by preventing the layer of processing composition from contacting portionsof the image-receptive sheet. surrounding the area, provides. a clean white border for apositive image formed in the area. The photographic process and various species alternative forms ofphotosensitive and image-receptive sheets above referred to are described indetail in Patent No. 2,543,181, issued toEdwin H. Land on February 27, 1951, for Photographic Product Comprising a Rupturable Container. Carrying a Photographic Processing Liquid.

It isan object of the present invention to provide a photographic product of the aforementioned type wherein very economigal utilization; of; the image-receptive sheet is achieved.

Specific objects, of-the-present invention are: to provide for use, in a photographic transfer process an assemblage including an image-receptive sheet and a masking sheet superposed thereon, the masking sheet having at least one opening which defines an image-receiving area on a predeterminedsection of the image-receptive sheet, the predetermined section being separated from residual sectionsof the image-receptivesheet by means of perforations, the assemblagebeing so" constructed as to enable the. predetermined section to constitute a greater proportion oftheimage-recjeptive sheet having perforations ofgthe aiorementioned type which extend substantially from one of its opposite edges'to the other; to provide an assemblage having an imageereceptive sheet and a naslsing sheet, superposed thereon, the'image-receptive sheet being of a predetermined width and the width of the masking sheet being greater than this"pi'edeterrnined Width so that the edges of the masking sheet overlap the edgesof the. image-receptive sheet; and to provide an assemblage of the aforementioned type comprising a container for carrying a processing composition and a member connected to oneof the residual sections of the image-receptive sheet and adapted to adhereto a section of the photosensitive sheet when the prpcessing composition 'hasbe'en spread between the imag eeiving. areaanda frame of a photosensitive Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious l in part a neahe ei a e The invention accordinglywomprises. the productv possessing the features, propertiesfaiid the. temps of components which areQexemplified' in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope seine application offwhich will be indicated in the claims."

For a fuller understanding. of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had toithe following detailed description' taken. in. connection with the at,- companying drawing whereini Figure 1 is a perspective.view of: an assemblage. embodying the present invention illustrated operation with a photosensitive sheet having. exposed frames; and

Fig. 2 is an" exa erate ,"cross-seasonal view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention generally comprises an "image-receptive" sheet having a succession of image-receiving sections. and a succession of residual sections, each image-receiving section being interposed between a pair'of residual-"sections; A masking sheet, having a successiono ftopnings, is superposed on the image-receptive sheet to that its openings define image-receiving areas. on" the image-receiving. sections. A succession of containers are. attached to the masking sheet in such a manner. that one container is aligned with one residualsection'and' is adapted toeject its contents for spreading between an imagereceiving'are'a and'a frame of a photosensitive sheet which has been superposed on the image-receptive sheet. Each imagereceiving'section is separable from the residual sections which it adjoins by virtue of a'pair of linesof perforations extending substantially from 'one of the opposite edges of the image-receptive sheet to the other. It is desirable, notwithstanding detachment 'of a pair of imagereceiving sections from the opposite sides 'of a residual section, to maintain this residual'section in superposed relation with the photosensitive sheet" in order to prevent spreading of excesspmcessin composition into regions of the processing apparatus where its presence is not desired. In accordancewith the present invention, means are provided for'securely affixing such residual sections to the phpt 'sflnsitive' sheet after spreading 'of processing compoisitio'nbetweefn. frames and imagereceiving areas has been'achievedj' i 4 Referring 'now to the drawing, a. photosensitive sheet 10, in conjunction with which an. assemblage embodying the present invention maybefutiliiedisshown in Fig. 2 as including a conventional base 12 anda suitable photosensitive layer. 14. on one sidefof the base. Layer 14 may be composed, for example, as a'silver halide emulsion. Layer 14 is adapted to' receive, upon photoexposure, a succession of latent images Within regions which, for convenience, will be. termed frarnes and will be designated at 16.. h

An assemblage. embodying. the present invention is generally shown at 18.""As'sernb1age 1 8 comprises an image-receptive sheet 20 which includes a suitable base 22 and a suitable image-receptive layer 24 on one side of the base. Imag'ere'ceptive sheet 20 includes a succession of image-receiving sections 26 (Fig. 1) and a succession of disposable "or residual "sections 30. Imagereceiving, sections. 26 are. adapted to receive a succession of visible images within regionswhich,' for convenience, will be termed image receivin'g areas and will befdesignated at 28,. lr'nag'e-regepti lei layer; 24 may comprise, for example, a silver precipitating 'agentwhich particularly adapts "successive" areas '28 to receive positive images. Each im'a'gegreceiving' section 26 is separated from the. residual sections 30'whi'ch it adjoins. by a pair of lines'of perforations 32 which, extend substantially from one 'of'the. opposite edges ofshee't 18 to the other. If desired, the'dges of image'receiving sections 26 may be deckled 'and'perforations iz m y be suitably shaped to provide deckled edges upon detachment of the image; e ving lsd qns' mm r sidual e tio 0.!

By way of example, it is possible to'use in the silver precipitating layer certain eon'ipounds and elements whose presence during the transfer process has a desirable effect on the amount charaeter of' the silver precipitated during ositive print form For this purpose, such materials'as, for exam m tallic sulfides andselenides. thiooXala-tesknd thioacet aniides; a been disel'qsed in copending applications Serial No. 727,385, filed by Edwin H. Land on February 8, 1947, for Photographic Product and Process, Serial No. 7,795, filed by Edwin H. Land on February 12, 1948, for Photographic Process. and Serial No. 164,908, filed by Edwin H. Land on May 29, 1950, for Photographic Silver Halide Transfer Product and Process. Other precipitating agents have been proposed, such as the colloidal metals and specifically colloidal silver. It is also desirable, as disclosed in these copending applications, to provide, as the vehicle for the silver precipitating agents in layer 24, a macroscopically continuous film that consists of submacroscopic agglomerates of minute particles of a suitable water-insoluble, inorganic, preferably siliceous, material, such, for example, as silica aerogel. The use of such a vehicle for the precipitating agents tends to aggregate the silver that is precipitated into its most effective condition for print formation.

In accordance with the present invention, a masking sheet 34 is associated with image-receptive sheet 20, masking sheet 34, for example, being composed of a suitable paper such as sulfate kraft condenser paper. Masking sheet 34 is provided with a series of openings 36 aligned with successive image-receiving sections 26 in such a manner as to define the aforementioned image-receiving areas 28. In order that image-receiving areas 28 constitute as large a proportion of image-receptive sheet 20 as possible, the width of openings 36 is almost as great as the width of image-receptive sheet 20. For a reason later to become apparent, masking sheet 34 is greater in width than image-receptive sheet 20 and overlaps its edges.

Masking sheet 34 and image-receptive sheet .20 are joined by a strippable bond which permits them to be readily separated. A suitable strippable bond, for example, is produced by coating adjacent surfaces of sheets 20 and 34 with relatively incompatible plastic materials and sealing the resulting laminations together by means of heat and/or pressure. Suitable incompatible plastic materials are a plastic composition comprising zein which preferably is applied to masking sheet 34 and a plastic composition comprising ethyl cellulose which preferably is applied to image-receptive sheet 20. Details of such a bond are more fully described in Patent No. 2,563,387, issued on August 7, 1951, to William J. McCune, In, for Photographic Image-Receiving Sheet.

A succession of containers, designated at 38 in the illustrated embodiment, are provided for carrying liquid processing composition. As shown, containers 38 are aflixed to masking sheet 34 in alignment with residual sections 30 by such means as adhesive strips 40, one container being associated with one image-receiving section 26. Each container is adapted to eject its contents through a rupturable mouth 42 for spreading between the frame 16 arid the image-receiving area 28 with which it is assocrate structed from a blank of three-ply sheet material having a single fold. The outer ply serves as a backing or support and is composed of a thin, relatively inexpensive, tough material, preferably a paper such as kraft paper. The

intermediate ply is composed of a substantially vapor-, J

liquid-impervious material, for example a metal foil such as silver, lead or nickel foil. The inner ply is composed of a suitable thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material, for example a polyvinyl acetal such as polyvinyl butyral or polyvinyl formal, which protects the container contents from contamination. A composition comprising by weight approximately 60% to 70% polyvinyl butyral, approximately 10% to 23% nitrocellulose and approximately dibutyl sebacate is particularly satisfactory. At opposite end portions of each container, the two folds of the inner ply are sealed to each other as by the application of heat and pressure. Those sections of the two folds defining the mouth are bonded together by a strip of adhesive which is so constituted that the adhesive forces between the strip and the inner ply are less than the cohesive forces between end portions of the inner ply which are sealed together. A satisfactory strip may be composed, for example, of ethyl cellulose or of a mixture of ethyl cellulose and parafiin, the mixture including at least 50% by weight of ethyl cellulose. Since the bonding forces between those sections defining the mouth are less than the bonding forces between other sections of the container, the application of opposed compressional forces to the container causes discharge of the containers contents through its mouth.

In the preferred form, each container 38 is con- The liquid processing composition preferably comprises an aqueous solution of a developer such as hydroquinone, a silver halide solvent such as sodium thiosulphate, an alkali, and a viscosity-increasing, film-forming material such as an alkali-inert polymer. Suitable plastic materials for increasing the viscosity of the liquid compositions, for example, are the water-soluble cellulosic materials such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and carboxy-methyl-hydroxyethyl cellulose.

In practice, photosensitive sheet and assemblage 18 are superposed with masking sheet 34 interposed between them and with a frame 16 in registration with an opening 36. Now, a container 38, when opposed compressional forces are applied to it by pressure-applying means on opposite sides of sheets 10 and 20, is capable of discharging its contents through its mouth 42. Relative motion between the pressure-applying means and sheets 10 and now causes spreading of the processing composition in a thin layer between frame 16 and image-receiving area 28. This layer is capable of developing a latent image in fparne 16 and of forming a positive print in imagereceiving area 28. I

In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure-applying means are shown as a pair of rollers 44 and 46 between which photosensitive sheet 10 and assemblage 18 may be advanced in superposed relation. Roller 44 is provided with a pair of shouldered end portions 48, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, and an intermediate pressure-applying surface 50. Roller 46 is provided with a pressure-applying surface 52. When photosensitive sheet 10 and assemblage 18 are advanced in superposed relation between rollers 44 and 46, there is spread between frame 16 and imagereceiving area 28 a layer of processing composition the thickness of which depends upon the thickness of masking sheet 34 and the height of shoulders 48.

To facilitate detachment of image-receiving sections 26 from residual sections 30, the residual sections are provided with finger-engageable, tear-out holes 54, one hole 54 being associated with one image-"eceiving section. Each residual section is further provided with transverse, straight-line perforations 56 extending from each of its edges toward its tear-out hole. Tear-out holes 54 and straight-line perforations 56 are designed to enable their associated image-receiving sections 26 to be readily detached from the residual sections 30 which adjoin them.

In Fig. 1, the approximate path traced by the processing composition following its release from a container 38 and spreading from one of the opposite edges of an imagereceiving area 28 toward and beyond the other is shown in dotted lines at 58. From mouth 42, the layer of processing composition, which has an initial width slightly less than the width of image-receiving area 28, expands toward the opposite edges of masking sheet 34. That portion of the layer that lies between the frame 16 and image-receiving area 28 is of a predetermined thickness as above indicated. Masking sheet 34, by overlapping the opposite edges of image-receiving section 26, prevents the layer from contacting them. When the layer has spread so as to completely cover image-receiving area 28, it contracts to a narrow tongue 60 midway between the edges of sheet 10 and assemblage 18. Tongue 60 is formed of processing composition in excess of that spread between frame 16 and area 28.

Container 38 is provided with a quantity of processing composition in excess of the absolute minimum required for covering merely an image-receiving area 28 with a layer of predetermined depth in order to enable complete covering of image-receiving area 28 notwithstanding adverse conditions of temperature and humidity and maldistribution of processing composition 39 as a result of non-uniform rupture of the mouth and nonuniform spreading.

It is desirable to maintain a residual section 30 during and after detachment of a pair of image-receiving sections 26 from its opposite sides, in superposed relation with photosensitive sheet 10 in order to prevent the escape of excess processing composition and of the residual section itself into regions of the processing apparatus where their presence is not desired. However, detachment of such a pair of image-receiving sections from opposite sides of such a residual section has a tendency to tear masking sheet 34 and/ or to strip the residual. section from it. A similar tendency exists when a residual section, disjoined completely from the remainder of the image receptive sheet by reason of the detachment of a pair of: irnage-receiving sections: from:,.its1 opposite sides, advances within the! processing,- apparatus. Accordingly, mean-sare provided for securely afiixingaresidual: section 3rd. to: the photosensitivesheet after spreading: of processing compositionbetweena frame ldiand'an image-receivmgv arealfij hasubeen accomplished; In the illustrated embodiment, this means-comprisesga.trapping element 62 so. constituted asto adhere, when-wettediby excessprocessing composition, to photosensitive-sheet 1.0a-nd thereafter to relieve the compressional:forces exerted xby roller 44 and. 46 inorder: to'prevent further spreading of excess processing-r composition; Elementfl, for example, is composed of a material, such aszstiff paper or. cardboard, possessing a: relatively high, tensile strength and a relatively high:v Youngs. modulus. Element. 62v includes a pair. of projections 6.41 which extend: through apertures in masking sheet; 34 and are; securely affixed to residual section 30. Element 621isprovided with: a strip: of adhesive material 66 which; whenwet' by excessprocessing composition, secures element62i'andconsequently residuai section 30 to photosensitive sheet Ill. If desired, an adhesive materialrm-ay beincluded withinstheprocessing composition itself: sorthat'r theaexcess processing composition, in the absence offstripptifi', is capable'of securing element 62 1w photosensitive sheet. 10. processing composition-described above, the-film-forming polymer constitutes an adhesive materialtcapable of performing this function. Alternatively, strip 66 is pressuresensitive adhesive;

Element 6 2-furtheriinch des,at its, opposite ends, a pair of crush-resistant projections 68'; Projections 68 define, in conjunction with aligned portions of photosensitive sheet andassemblage 1 8," atrappingregion which is large enough-in volume touconfine the. greater part-ofthe excess processingcomposition and which will not appreciably change in volume when advanced between pressure-applying rollers 44 and 46.

In the form shown, element 62 is further provided with a pair of apertures 70 which are adapted to coact with a suitable stop means within a processing apparatus to predeterminedly arrest advancement of photosensitive sheet 10 and assemblage 18 between rollers 44 and 46.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A photographic assemblage comprising an imagereceptive sheet having a pair of substantially parallel edges and at least a pair of lines of perforations extending substantially from one of said edges to the other of said edges, said pair of lines defining therebetween an image-receiving section and separating said image-receiving section from a pair of residual sections on opposite sides of said imagereceiving section, and a masking sheet having a pair of substantially parallel edges and at least an opening, the distance between said edges of, said masking sheet being greater than the distance between said edges of said image-receptive sheet, said masking sheet being superposed on said image-receptive sheet with said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet overlapping said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet and with the boundaries of said opening encompassed by the boundaries of said image-receiving section.

2. A photographic assemblage comprising an imagereceptive sheet having a pair of substantially parallel edges and at least a pair of lines of perforations extending substantially from one of said edges to the other of said edges, said pair of lines defining therebetween a substantially rectangular image-receiving section and separating said image-receiving section from a pair of residual sections on opposite sides of said image-receiving section, and a masking sheet having a pair of substantially parallel edges and at least a substantially rectangular opening, the distance between said edges of said masking sheet being greater'than the distance between said edges of said image-receptive sheet, said masking sheet being superposed on said image-receptive sheet with said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet overlapping said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet and with the boundaries of said opening encompassed by and adjacent to the boundaries of said image-receiving section.

In the specific 35. photographic. assemblage comprising anximagee receptive sheet having a pair of substantially-parallel edges andiat least apair of lines. of perforations: extending substantially from one of said edgesto: the other; of. said. edges, said pair of linesadefining: tberebetween: an: 1rnage-reeeiving section. and separating; said imagesrc" ceivrngsection-Emma pair ofrresidual sections on opposite sidesof said image-receiving section, v a masking sheet having apair of: substantially parallel edges. and at least an. opening,.. the distance between said. edges: of said masking sheet being greater than the distance between said: edges ot said image-receptivesheet, said masking sheet being superposed on said image-receptive. sheet Wll'h; said: longitudinal edges ofsaid masking sheet overlapping said. longitudinal edges of said image-receptive. sheet andwitli the boundaries of'said opening encompassed by; the; boundaries of said image-receiving section, and a container carrying. a processing composition, said: container being associatedwith one of said residual sections, said processing composition being: adapted to beispread': on said image-receiving: section within said" opening'in. a layer of predetermined thickness, said masking sheet being adaptedv to prevent. said processing composition from contacting areas of said image-receiving section defined: by said. boundaries of said opening: and said boundaries. of said image-receivingsection.

4; A photographic assemblage comprising an: image receptive sheet: having apai-r of substantially parallel edges-and a pair of lines of perforations extending substantially from one: of said edges .to the other of said edges, sa=id'pair of: lines defining therebetween an imagereceivang section and separating said image-receiving section froma pair of residual sections onopposite'sides oi: said image-receiving section, and a masking sheet havinga pair ofsubstantially parallel edges and at least an opening, the distance between said edges and said masking sheet being greater than the distance between said edges of said image-receptive sheet, said masking sheet being bonded to and superposed on said imagereceptive sheet with said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet overlapping said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet and with the boundaries of said opening encompassed by the boundaries of said imagereceiving section, a container carrying a processing composition, said container being mounted on said masking sheet and superposed on one of said residual sections, said processing composition being adapted to be spread on said image-receiving section within said opening in a layer of predetermined thickness, said masking sheet being adapted to prevent said processing composition from contacting areas of said image-receiving section defined by said boundaries of said opening and said boundaries of said image-receiving section, and an element so constituted as to adhere to another sheet after being wetted by said processing composition, said element being mounted on said masking sheet and superposed on the other of said residual sections.

5. The assemblage of claim 4 wherein said processing composition includes an adhesive material.

6. The assemblage of claim 4 wherein said element is affixed directly to said image-receptive sheet.

7. The assemblage of claim 4 wherein said element is provided with a moisture-sensitive adhesive material.

8. A photographic assemblage comprising an elongated image-receptive sheet having a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal edges and a plurality of substantially parallel lines of perforations extending substantially from one of said edges to the other of said edges, said lines alternately defining in said image-receptive sheet imagereceiving sections and residual sections so that each of said image-receiving sections is separated from the remainder of the image-receptive sheet by a pair of residual sections, each of said image-receiving sections being more extensive than each of said residual sections, and an elongated masking sheet having a pair of elongated substantially parallel edges and having a series of openings therealong, the distance between said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet being greater than the distance between said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet, said masking sheet being bonded to and superposed on said image-receptive sheet with said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet overlapping said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet and with the boundaries of one each of said openings encompassed by the boundaries of one each of said image-receiving sections.

l 9. A photographic assemblage comprising an elongated image-receptive sheet having a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal edges and a plurality of substantially parallel lines of perforations extending substantially from one of said edges to the other of said edges, said lines alternately defining in said image-receptive sheet imagereceiving sections and residual sections so that each of said image-receiving sections is separated from the remainder of the image-receptive sheet by a pair of residual sections, each of said image-receiving sections being more extensive than each of said residual sections, an elongated masking sheet having a pair of elongated substantially parallel edges and having a series of openings therealong, the distance between said longitudinal edges of said masking sheet being greater than the distance between said longitudinal edges of said imagereceptive sheet, said masking sheet being bonded to and superposed on said image-receptive sheet with said 1ongitudinal edges of said masking sheet overlapping said longitudinal edges of said image-receptive sheet and with the boundaries of one each of said openings encompassed by the boundaries of one each of said imagereceiving sections, a plurality of containers carrying a processing composition, one each of said containers, in association with one each of said image-receiving sections, being mounted on said masking sheet and superposed on one each of said residual sections, each said one of said containers being adapted to be ruptured and the processing composition therewithin being adapted to be discharged therefrom and to be spread on each said one of said image-receiving sections within each said one of said openings in a layer of predetermined thickness by a pair of pressure-applying members between which said assemblage is advanced, said masking sheet being adapted to prevent the last-mentioned processing composition from contacting areas of each said one of said image-receiving sections between said boundaries of each said one of said image-receiving sections and said boundaries of each said one of said openings, and a plurality of trapping elements, one each of said trapping elements, in association with one each of said image-receiving sections, being mounted on said masking sheet and superposed on one each of said residual sections, each said one of said image-receiving sections on which each said one of said containers is superposed and each said one of said residual sections on which each said one of said trapping elements is superposed being on opposite sides of each said one of said imagereceiving sections, each said one of said trapping elements being so constituted as to prevent said pressure-applying members from exerting compressional forces therebetween in order to prevent spreading of said last-mentioned processing composition therebeyond.

10. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein said processing composition includes an adhesive material.

11. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein said trapping elements are alfixed directly to said residual sections.

12. The assemblage of claim 9 wherein said trapping elements are provided with strips of moisture-sensitive adhesive material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,563,387 McCune Aug. 7, 1951 2,565,367 Greenhalgh et al Aug. 21, 1951 2,612,452 McCune Sept. 30, 1952. 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSEMBLAGE COMPRISING AN IMAGERECEPTIVE SHEET HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL EDGES AND AT LEAST A PAIR OF LINES OF PERFORATIONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM ONE OF SAID EDGES TO THE OTHER OF SAID EDGES, SAID PAIR OF LINES DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN IMAGE-RECEIVING SECTION AND SEPARATING SAID IMAGE-RECEIVING SECTION FROM A PAIR OF RESIDUAL SECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID IMAGERECEIVING SECTION, AND A MASKING SHEET HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL EDGES AND AT LEAST AN OPENING, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EDGES OF SAID MASKING SHEET BEING GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EDGES OF SAID IMAGE-RECEPTIVE SHEET, AND MASKING SHEET BEING SUPERPOSED ON SAID IMAGE-RECEPTIVE SHEET WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID MASKING SHEET OVERLAPPING SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID IMAGE-RECEPTIVE SHEET AND WITH THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID OPENING ENCOMPASSED BY THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID IMAGE-RECEIVING SECTION. 